Western Canada's art magazine since 2002
26 July 2022 Vol 7 No 15 ISSN 2561-3316 © 2022
Portia Priegert
From the Editor
How are you doing? Really, deep down in the bones, in the scrapings of the mind, the whispers of the psyche, the yearnings of the heart?
I think many of us, despite the pleasures of warm summer days after a long, hard winter, are struggling. I’ve noticed it in friends. Some are trying to shake off their last hacking coughs amidst the seventh wave of COVID-19, while others teeter on the knife-edge of burnout, complaining of fatigue and depression. It goes beyond the typical summer doldrums. I’ve been calling it The Great Lassitude.
I’ve noticed the same tendencies in our team of freelance writers, some of whom are bowing out of assignments to take care of their health or their families, and also in artists struggling to work, aghast at the continuing uncertainty of the pandemic, as well as the gloom of inflation, climate change and news reports about racism, sexual abuse, strife and warfare.
As I write this note, the Pope is making a long overdue apology in Edmonton for the Catholic church’s role in generations of abuse and trauma at residential schools. The pain in the voices of Indigenous people speaking to CBC reporters echoes like a heavy drumbeat through my heart, as it must for you too.
These days, galleries seem to be running more slowly, making it harder for us to find stories. I’m reaching further afield to maintain what I think is probably now the country’s most intensive visual arts coverage.
For this biweekly issue, we’ve curated a varied mix of shows, from Inuk artist Mark Igloliorte’s work with skateboards and Toronto artist Ed Pien’s conversations with seniors in Cuba to Acadian artist Annie France Noël’s look at birthing and early motherhood, Hong Kong-based Christopher K. Ho’s exploration of themes around emigration, and Toronto artist Chris Curreri’s show, which reviewer Lissa Robinson describes as “slippery, seductive and dark.” Finally, I stepped in at the last moment, after another story fell through, to review Adorned, which explores the cultural richness of diverse forms of clothing and jewelry.
Looking ahead to our next issue, watch for two highlights: Vancouver writer Yani Kong’s report from the Venice Biennale and Alison Gillmor on Esmaa Mohamoud at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
Until then, please keep well with time outdoors in the sunshine and other acts of self-care, whatever brings you joy. Our communities of artists and arts lovers matter deeply. You matter deeply. And, if you have the energy, do feel free to drop us a note in the comments about how you are doing and what’s happening in your world.
Take care,
CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE: Lauren Fournier, Lindsay Inglis, Shazia Hafiz Ramji, Lissa Robinson, Christina Thomson
We acknowledge the support of the Government of Alberta Media Fund, the Government of Canada Special Measures for Journalism Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts.
